The First time, ever I saw George Michael

I still remember seeing this on MTV when it was a premier video.




This is my all time  favourite George Michael Song and Video.

two-fre

https://youtu.be/bC1oMO4mNNw

Vancouver's Own Marianas Trench!

Some simple instructions
For a good first impression
Now let's start with verse one

A minor chord, tensions grow
Fade in the bass like so
Now with momentum go "stop"
And bring the beat back

It's called 4 on the floor
A beat you can't ignore
I bring sexy back once more (yeah)
They love that (yeah) for sure

The chords are 1-4-6-4
Now I'm talking familiar
Harmony in thirds not fourths
Will take you into the pre-chorus

Real quick now, don't you bore us
Hurry up and get to the chorus
Dumbed down, they won't ignore us

Get to the floor
And hear some words you should know
Like "DJ never let me go"
Or "Shots and then we'll lose control"
Or "baby, baby, baby, baby, baby"
How about one more last word like
"Hey girl, we've only got tonight"
Some things just go together like
Higher, desire, and fire
Higher, desire, and fire

Guitar and strings like these
To sound like Black Eyed Peas
This one's a filter sweep
This one's Imogen Heap
Hipster music on cassette
But you probably don't know them yet
808's... (hey, ho) Hell yeah
Heartfelt pub anthems from Mumford and his sons
Gang vocals here we come
Been thinking, "I will always wait."
(Wobble Bass)

Real quick now, don't you bore us
Hurry up and get to the chorus
Dumbed down, they won't ignore us

(Tape slow down
Take 'em to the chorus)

Whoa
And hear some words you should know
Like "DJ never let me go"
Or "Shots and then we'll lose control"
Or "baby, baby, baby, baby, baby"
How about one more last word like
"Hey girl, we've only got tonight"
Some things just go together like
Higher, desire, and fire
Higher, desire, and fire

(I can pitch shift my voice if I want [3x]
I can make my voice low)

The bridge is
The part when
You bring in
A rapper friend ('Sup?)
You simplify, and slow the beat
Abbreviate "feature" to "feat"

[Anami Vice:]
Quick now, fill in the gaps (Okay!)
Water it down, eliminate that which you really would rap and
Give 'em a classic like

Get-get-get (cash, money) to the floor
And hear some words you should know
Like "DJ never let me go"
Or "Shots and then we'll lose control"
Or "baby, baby, baby, baby, baby"
How about one more last word like
"Hey girl, we've only got tonight"
Some things just go together like
Higher, desire, and fire
Higher, desire, and fire

(Dance)

(Boots n cats n boots n cats n boots n cats n boots n cats)
Joshua Ramsay
(Boots n cats n boots n cats n boots n cats)

Juniper By Begonia.

Begonia

A Winnipeg band that defies categorization by the sheer inventive creativity track by track.

I love this version of a 90's style with a 60's DNA.  Enjoy!

"Juniper" Split-Screen Comparison. from ReelSteady on Vimeo.

If you could fold a piece of paper 42 times, it would reach the moon.

Simple  Maths, but tough to relate to this fact considering that the thickness  of an average paper sheet is 0.01 cm and distance  of moon from earth is  384,000 kilometers!.


Here is the proof:
Let the thickness of paper be x

On every fold ,the thickness of resulting paper will be 2 times

Therefore for 42 folds thickness becomes (2^42)  times x

Assuming x to be 0.01 cm , (2^42) times x becomes roughly 439,804 km. And distance of moon from earth is 384,000 km.

Doug and the Slugs

Oh to be in Canada in the 80's!  Tarzan Dan on Much Music playing Doug and the Slugs.  They were Vancouver base with Doug Bennett in the lead.  R&B with some Zany and R rated videos.

Sadly Doug passed away in 2004

Sometimes, you learn something you should have known. Slade .vs. Quiet Riot .vs. Great Big Sea.

I have long lived under the assumption that Quiet Riot was responsible for Cum on feel the noize.




In the most oblique manner I could have imagined I discovered that Slade had the first hit version:


Google music had a discount on the next album purchased.  I used this to get Great Big Seas XX album.  It is a greatest hits 30 song album.  One of my favourite tunes is a Cover of Slade's Run Runaway.


My wife knew it was a Slade cover,  I did not.  That lead me to look up Slades discography and low and behold!


Great Big Sea turned Run runaway into a Newfoundland Celtic pub song:  Enjoy!!

Headly - Vancouver band you should know.

Video on Much Music

It's a strange thing in life
When you're chasing your dreams
And it's not what it seems
And your heart is on the line
And now we want to be the one fade in

Am I out of my mind?
Do I got it all wrong
Though I have what I want
But I try to make it right
I've never wanted to be the one waiting

Cause she said Jake you're a little bit stoned
When you gonna get grown
Would you just go home
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself
I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

Too little too late
I don't think I'm gonna stay
I don't think you gonna change
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself
I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

But I can't slow down now
The light just went down, down

There's a cost, there's a price
Yeah you're really feel the fall out
Ripping your heart out
Night after night
When all you ever wanted was some home time

I'm not thinking sober
I don't think it's over
I can't lie
But I can use a little bit of lone time

Cause she said Jake you're a little bit stoned
When you gonna get grown
Would you just go home
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself

I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

Too little too late
I don't think I'm gonna stay
I don't think you gonna change
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself
I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

But I can't slow down now
The light just went down, down
Baby hold on somehow
Cause I can't slow down now
No I can't slow down now

I'm not thinking sober
I don't think it's over
I can't lie
I could use a little bit of home time

Cause she said Jake you're a little bit stoned
When you gonna get grown
Would you just go home
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself
I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

Too little too late
I don't think I'm gonna stay
I don't think you gonna change
I'm so not sure
Could you help yourself
I can't help you anymore
You're going faster than me

But I can't slow down now
The light just went down, down
Baby hold on somehow
Cause I can't slow down now
No I can't slow down now 

Note to Happy Cynic

Tough time deciding if you are sociopathic or narcissistic.  Not that it matters.

I see that you still comment, which I delete unread.  Not sure why you pretend to care about this mostly unviewed blog of mine.  The last communication we had (that I can recall) was my repeatedly asking\telling you to "Go Away".  That sentiment still echos true.

Which leads me to the above pondering.  I have no desire to communicate anything to you.  There is nothing but apathy left towards you.

Still, feel free to post comments.  My system will note and  I delete the comments unread.

A do wish you well and hope you have a long and enjoyable existence.

Lauren Mann

The Calgary native, who has recently put down roots in British Columbia’s Southern Gulf Islands, started touring full time in 2011 with her first album Stories From Home, a collection of self-produced home recordings.

She followed this with the 2012 release Over Land and Sea, produced by Aaron Marsh (Copeland, Person L) and called “a sonic tapestry saturated by sunlight,” by Exclaim Magazine. The diverse instrumentation and beautiful harmonies centered around Lauren’s gift of songwriting garnered the attention of listeners and critics alike, with the songs Weight of the World, Over Land and Sea, and I Lost Myself going into regular rotation on CBC Radio 2 nationwide. In 2014, Lauren and her band affectionately known as the Fairly Odd Folk, were the winners of the CBC Searchlight contest, rising to the top of over 4500 bands across Canada and named Canada’s best new emerging artist.

Serena Ryder

Serena Ryder is a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, she grew up in Millbrook, Ontario.

Ryder first gained national recognition with her ballad "Weak in the Knees" in 2007. An accomplished songwriter and musician, she also possesses a three-octave vocal range and is considered a mezzo-soprano.

Alessia Cara - Wild Things

Find table spaces
Say your social graces
Bow your head, they're pious here
But you and I, we're pioneers
We make our own rules
Our own room, no bias here
Let 'em sell what they are sellin'
There are no buyers here
So gather all the rebels now
We'll rebel rouse and sing aloud
We don't care what they say no way, no way
And we will leave the empty chairs
To those who say we can't sit there
We're fine all by ourselves

[Pre-Chorus]
So aye, we brought our drum and this is how we dance
No mistakin', we make our breaks, if you don't like our 808s
Then leave us alone, cause we don't need your policies
We have no apologies for being...

[Chorus]
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be alright
Don't mind us
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be just fine
Don't mind us, yeah
Find me where the wild things are

[Verse 2]
I lose my balance on these eggshells
You tell me to tread, I'd rather be a wild one instead
Don't wanna hang around the in crowd
The cool kids aren't cool to me
They're not cooler than we are

[Pre-Chorus]
So aye, we brought our drum and this is how we dance
No mistakin', we make our breaks, if you don't like our 808s
Then leave us alone, cause we don't need your policies
We have no apologies for being...

[Chorus]
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be alright
Don't mind us, yeah
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be just fine
Aye-aye-aye don't mind us

[Bridge]
We will carve our place into time and space
We will find our way, or we'll make a way, say hey, hey, hey
Find you're great, don't you hide your face
And let it shine, shine, shine, shine

[Pre-Chorus]
So aye, we brought our drum and this is how we dance
No mistakin', we make our breaks, if you don't like our 808s
Then leave us alone, cause we don't need your policies
We have no apologies for being...

[Chorus]
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be alright
Don't mind us, yeah
Find me where the wild things are
Oh my, we'll be just fine
Don't mind us, yeah
Find me where the wild things are

Pointed Sticks

Pointed Sticks are a Canadian punk rock / power pop band from Vancouver. Originally active from 1978 to 1981, then reuniting to perform in July 2006 through to November 2012.

After a three year hiatus, Pointed Sticks returned to the stage in June 2015 for shows on Vancouver island as well as the July 11th Khatsahlano street party in Vancouver (sporadic live appearances have continued into 2016).

The band is known for their fast melodic pop music and liberal use of harmony singing by all five members—also for unusual graphic images that acted as counterpoint to the music.

Congratulations to Vancouver's Desirée Dawson for winning the 2016 CBC Searchlight Competition!

Let your head hang low
Let your eyes fall heavy
you can jump, you wont fall
arms wide open, i'll be ready

Let your ego melt fast
Let your smile stay bright
You can hold my hand a tight knit grip throughout this night 

So let me be the roots, you need
Let me help you grow 
let me help you succeed
know that you are loved
not just by me 
see my heart open wide 
so why do you get scared 
and why do you hide

Let your doubts crash to pieces 
negativity needs releases 
but i know, i know, deep in you
you just wanna love, love what you do
but pressure hits you like a plank 
and ego wants to fill the bank 
but the bank in your heart will always be barren 
if you don't start the love
please start the caring 

So let me be the roots, you need
Let me help you grow 
let me help you succeed
know that you are loved
not just by me 
see my heart open wide 
so why do you get scared 
and why do you hide

why do you hide from love
oh why do you you hide 
oh why do you hide 
from love
why do you hide

About the name Eh440
When something vibrates 440 times per second it gives us the note "A". And because we're Canadian and Canadians say "eh?" a lot, we Canadianized it!

Lucius - Something About You

New album coming out soon.  Good Grief! 

Basia Bulat's new album "Good Advice" is going on sale soon.  If the single is any indication we have some great listening ahead of us.  Bulat grew up in Etobicoke, Ontario where her mother was a music teacher who taught piano and guitar. 

Canadian Music from the 90's

Rheostatics




Ashley MacIssac




Shadowy Men




Len />

Mummers dance

"Mummering" is a Newfoundland custom that dates back to the time of the earliest settlers who came from England and Ireland.   You dress up and go to someones house and see if they know who you are.



Loreena McKennitt came up with the Mummers dance in the 1990's and it has woven its way through Canada.

When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair

When owls call the breathless moon
In the blue veil of the night
The shadows of the trees appear
Amidst the lantern light

We've been rambling all the night
And some time of this day
Now returning back again
We bring a garland gay

Who will go down to those shady groves
And summon the shadows there
And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms
In the springtime of the year

The songs of birds seem to fill the wood
That when the fiddler plays
All their voices can be heard
Long past their woodland days

And so they linked their hands and danced
Round in circles and in rows
And so the journey of the night descends
When all the shades are gone

"A garland gay we bring you here
And at your door we stand
It is a sprout well budded out
The work of Our Lord's hand"